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Exploring Springfield, OH!
Happy New Year everyone!!! We are so excited for all that 2022 has in store. To start the year, we are here with a fresh new blog post for you! At the end of 2021, Tiff D. and the hubby partnered with Greater Springfield in Ohio for a full day and a half of activities. Lucky for us, we visited during “Holidays in the City” which is a 5 week celebration with tons of fun activities. And for you holiday lovers, Christmas and New Year’s Eve may have passed, but it continues through 1/7/22! Let me just say, we had a blast!! But before we get to the deets on what all we did, let me share a bit about Springfield.
Springfield, also known as “Champion City” is a smaller city located in between the suburbs of greater Dayton and Columbus. It was founded in 1801 with the original growth stimulated by the construction of the national railroad which went through the area. There is deep cultural history here that comes from the booming businesses in the 1900s, financial industries and racial development. Right now, the area continues to be revitalized, which is exciting to see!
Fun fact: My brother is an alum of Wittenberg University which is a Liberal Arts college located in the city.
Ok…now to the activities!
We arrived early in the day and kicked things off by visiting Champion City Guide & Supply – This is a cool shop that has great apparel. They have sweatshirts, t-shirts, pants, mugs, hats, and much more. If you want to ‘rep your city’ with heritage apparel or buy local artisan goods, this is the place to visit first. They are also a Visitor’s Center, as they are partnered with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. It gave us a feel for everyone’s true love for Springfield, which was apparent throughout the entire store.
Time to fuel up! Our next step was Winans Chocolates + Coffee. What I love about this Ohio based company is they have a nice appreciation for great quality and community. As their website says, they “develop products that are authentic to our history and relevant to the national culinary fabric and its continued development” and they “maintain appealing spaces where all members of the community can gather and feel at home”. I certainly felt this comfort from the moment I walked in and tasted the quality right away. We opted for chai lattes with a shot of espresso (dirty chai) and a pump of caramel. Deliciousss! It was exactly what we needed to get our day jumpstarted. If it weren’t so early, we would’ve dove right into all of their handcrafted chocolates because as they say, coffee and chocolate fit together like a glove! Having had their chocolates at another location before, we opted for their blueberry muffin which is just as tasty. Next time, I plan to leave with a huge bag to snack on later
Now that our energy was at a high, it was time for our tour of the Westcott House. The Westcott house was designed in 1906 and built in 1908 by the one and only Frank Lloyd Wright. If you’re unfamiliar with him, take a moment to do a bit of research on him, as he is one of the top architects of that time. This house was a site to see in the community! It’s horizontal lines and openness were far above its time. After the passing of the Westcotts, the house was converted to a multi-unit apartment building. This changed the original design so after many years and millions of dollars funded, the house was revitalized to honor the original design and is now open for tours to the public. We truly enjoyed being able to see the uniqueness and preservation of furniture. It was as if we walked back in time but were still viewing items that were modern. Quite a different and fun activity!
Now after all that learning, it was time to EAT! We were on our way to one of the best- and well-known restaurants in Springfield- Speakeasy Ramen. They’ve only been open for a few years but have already received numerous awards for their taste and quality. This was my second time visiting and it was just as delicious as the first. Yummmyyy! You can taste the freshness of the ingredients in every bite. This time around, we ordered:
One Holiday Special Cocktail- The Merry Martini & The Lemon Lavender Martini
Appetizer Wings- These are spicyyyy! Get the sauce on the side if you don’t like them hot!
JFC Taco- The most original taco I’ve probably ever had!
Japanese Curry Ramen with Shrimp- They’re known for their ramen!
All the items were flavored perfectly and filled us up with just the right amount of food. Great stuff! Be sure to check out the menu before you go. It changes frequently.
Now, if we were going to make it out anywhere else, we needed to get to the hotel for some rest! We checked in at the Courtyard Marriott, downtown Springfield for a bit of quiet time before getting back to things. The first thing we noticed was how friendly the staff were. They were super helpful with any question we asked and made general conversation, which is not always likely at hotels. If you’re picking a place to stay, I would encourage you to book this one because it’s updated, clean, modern and right in the heart of downtown. You can leave your car parked and walk to a great deal of options nearby. They also have all the major streaming services already set up on your tv so depending on the time that you have, you can sit, and binge watch your favorite shows before bed or before you head back out (which is exactly what we did).
It’s amazing how good rest causes you to work up an appetite! LOL Yes, it was time to eat again! For dinner, we walked down to Stella Bleu. Our walk was lovely because of the Christmas displays (including the HUGE Christmas tree in the center of downtown), and the holiday music playing in the air. Super romantic! We loved being able to visit during Holidays in the City. It made it extra special!
Sidenote: They are offering carriage rides through downtown through the 7th as well. The weather was not on our side for this but try it out if you’re in the area during this time!
Back to Stella Bleu…. They are a casual, fine dining experience in a newly renovated space. Their menu has quite a bit of variety to it so there’s likely going to be something for everyone you visit with. What we really enjoyed about this restaurant is they had great menu options that were nicer than your typical dining place, but they were also reasonably priced. So, if you want to have a date night or night out with your friends and family, this is your place! We ordered:
Stella Frites (superrrr good!)
Salmon Entrée
Butter Chicken Entrée
All entrees came with a side salad and complimentary biscuits. The biscuits were so good that we asked for more lol The service is also FAST! If you want to take your time a bit more, ask them to space out your options and they gladly will!
Who’s ready for cocktails?!!! We are!!! After finishing our meal, we walked down the street to CoHatch, which is a coworking space that also has restaurants and events. There are several throughout the state and other regions, so it was nice to also see one in the transitioning area of Springfield! This night, we went specifically for Market Bar. They are a cool, hip bar that offers up a huge variety of fun drinks. It happened to be a Tuesday night when we went which meant Tequila specials!! Woop! The bartender made us THE BEST margaritas that I’ve had in a long time. And they have a ton of flavor options that you can mix and match to make a custom one. What was cool about this area is one of the rooms nearby had public salsa dancing available for everyone. They looked like they were having a ball! And every so often, they’d come to the bar, grab and finish a drink, then go back to dancing! It was a fun vibe that I would keep coming back for!
And now….it was time to head back to the Marriott for a good night’s sleep because we still had a few more things to get into in the morning!
Alrighty! It was now morning and the first thing I always want to do when I wake up is EAT! Lucky for us, Ironworks Waffle Cafe, which is located inside of CoHatch, was waiting on us. A bit about them: They were founded on the goal of restoring vitality and passion to the rich historic downtown of Springfield. They also name every waffle after a notable Springfield icon. Let’s get into these waffles though! They have sweet and savory selections to fit whatever your taste buds are calling for. We ordered one of each:
Savory- The Johnny Lytle which had fried chicken and bourbon syrup. This one comes with a side. I recommend the waffle fries
Sweet- The National Road- which was a traditional waffle that we topped with fruit and whipped cream
I loveeee traditional Belgian waffles so these were right up my alley. They were the perfect way to start our day.
Oh, don’t forget to get coffee from Ironworks. We ordered our regular Dirty Chai with caramel. Veryyy good! We also were able to see more of the CoHatch space and all that it has to offer. It’s pretty cool!
Ok, last, but certainly not least was our stop at the Gammon House for a tour. For those that don’t know, the Gammon House was built in 1850 and is one of only three existing Ohio stops on the Underground Railroad owned by a free person of color. George and Sarah Gammon were extremely courageous in helping slaves get to freedom. They risked paying a huge fine or jail time if caught. Over the years, the house has been revitalized and is now like a mini museum, displaying many historical facts about slavery in general, Springfield happenings related to race, and Ohio news related to race. I learned so many new, and very important things visiting. It sent me through a wave of emotions primarily because it’s hard to continue to hear about the treatment of my people, but it’s also encouraging and motivating to see how far we have come and hear about the heroic people who paved the way! I encourage all people to visit this historic house. And in great news, we learned that they just purchased the land across the street to expand the space for more facts and additional events! Kudos to them!
Well ya’ll, that wraps up our time in Springfield. We loved learning more about the area and enjoyed visiting some of the top spots the city offers! We look forward to visiting again in the future. We hope this encourages you all to visit as well!
Cheers!
Celebrating the Holidays in Ohio!
Can you all believe that December is already here? We are now wearing our sweaters, drinking hot
cocoa, burning our favorite holiday candles, and gearing up for Christmas! My the time has flown by this
year. 2021 has been an interesting one and we must say, we are so ready for the holiday season! And
we are back with our final partnership of the year with Ohio. Find It Here. to bring you some fun
activities to do during the holidays with family, friends and/or your significant other. What makes this so
fun and special is, all of the activities we share can be done right here in Cincinnati! So grab your coats,
grab a few of your friends, and let’s get active in the Queen City!
Pick up your tree and all things holidays from Findlay Market!
The tree sale at Findlay Market is a huge fundraiser for them! They have such a great selection with new
ones being regularly delivered. Whether you want big or small, they have the perfect fit for your family.
The tree/greens sale is located on the west side of the Market, at Jane’s Bar. I, Tiff D. can’t wait to pick
mine out and get to decorating!
While you are there, you can also do the following:
Pick up food for family gatherings: Findlay Market has an amazing selection of food. It ranges from fresh
pastas, spices, meat and seafood, breads and so much more. Anything that you’d make for your family
(including ethnic cuisines), you’d likely find the ingredients for here. This is a great way to support your
local farmers and vendors.
Elves on Elder: This is a magical experience that’s located in the Leader Furniture building. In the
daytime, they have transformed it into a space where your kids can enjoy Christmas decorations, color
and take pictures. In the evening, they have a pop-up lounge where there is live music and warm drinks.
They’ll also have different food merchants inside with different options, one being cheese plates for
purchase from The Rhined (YUM!!!)
Daytime event times- 10a-3p
Evening event times- 5-10p
Stop by Washington Park for Strauss Troy Winter Market!
Washington Park is offering holiday shopping weekends to shop small and support local. This will include
local artisans, crafters, and business owners. Stop by Fridays from 11a-7p or Saturday/Sunday from 11a-
6p to get your shop on! We guarantee you’ll find something for your loved ones while keeping your
favorite businesses in business! Vendors vary each weekend so be sure to visit their website to get an
up-to-date list.
In addition to holiday shopping, they are also offering Santa’s workshop where your little ones can take
a socially distanced picture with Santa Claus! Now who doesn’t love that?! All you need to do is bring
your own camera and you’ll have memories to last a lifetime!
Hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4p.
Ice Skating like Kristi Yamaguchi
Did you know that you and your friends can skate at an outdoor ice arena in the middle of downtown?
Yep, you sure can! Every year, UC Health and Fifth Third Bank present an outdoor ice arena that takes
over Fountain Square. It is so much fun to get on the ice and feel like a kid again. It is even funnier when
you go with a small group of friends and everyone is out on the ice looking like babies trying to walk. LOL
Do not bother with a workout for the day because you will get the perfect leg day workout going around
the rink 3 times. Tiff B. and Tiff D. hit the ice rink like we were Kristi Yamaguchi! HAHA, more like her
students in training! Nonetheless, while we have no skills close to Kristi, we had a ball ice skating to
celebrate a friend’s birthday! Ice skating is a fun holiday activity. It brought us joy while skating around
the rink. It reminded us of being free, enjoying life’s beautiful moments. While we did it with a small
group of girlfriends, ice skating can also be enjoyed with family. There were a few families and smaller
children out on the rink as well. If you are looking for an outdoor activity that is unique and whimsical,
ice skating at Fountain Square is for you!
Try Holiday Cocktails
We loveeeee all of the fun holiday cocktails that are offered around this time of year. And there are so
many local bars that offer specialties. Of course you can get your typical holiday coffees, but we enjoy
fun spiked ones �� One of the places Tiff D. visited was Anjou, which is a super cute bar in Walnut Hills.
They’ve always had a very cute vibe that is really nice and relaxed. For the holidays, they have two
specials:
The Shandy Claus: It has aromatized wine, herbal liqueur, lemon, cranberry, rosemary, sage, hard cider,
bitters- This one was a fav!
Carver’s Secrets: It has bourbon, amaro, ginger liqueur, cinnamon, sweet potato shrub, bitters and egg
white- This was the most creative!
Be a Wax Chandler
If you know anything about Tiff Squared or watch our stories (if you do not, you should!), we love
candles! We are always trying to find the best candle companies around, plus there is nothing like a
nicely scented candle burning with a holiday scent! Tiff B. had the opportunity to take a candle making
class with Manitou Candle Co. Manitou is located approximately
10 minutes outside of downtown Cincinnati. It is the cutest candle shop that offers candles, stationery,
home décor, lifestyle, kitchen and bar, bath and beauty, prints, jewelry, children’s items, and men’s
wear. This is a super cute place to buy that female in your life the perfect gift. They offer 100 scents of
pre-made candles. They also offer candle making classes held right in their studio. The candle class is so
much fun and is the perfect holiday activity for yourself or with a friend. I went by myself but there were
a few smaller groups of friends (2-3) or mom and daughter duos. The studio and candle making room is
super picturesque. The class is 1.5 hours and walks you step-by-step through making two candles. The
class is $50. This is a great deal because each 11 oz. candle in the store is $25 therefore you are only
paying for the candles themselves, but the experience is free. That is a win in my book because
sometimes the best experiences in life are priceless. I choose two scents which were Merry Merry and
Vanilla Chai and mixed them together. This was the perfect Christmas candle for me. I name my candle
Vanilla Chai Christmas. Shelby was my class teacher, and she was awesome! They also allow you to
BYOB! Kind of like paint and sip but be a chandler and sip. What is a chandler you ask? A chandler is
someone who handles wax. If you are looking for a fun, more creative holiday activity this one has your
name all over it!
Let the Light Guide You
Every year, Ohio. Find It Here celebrates Holidays in Ohio with a campaign to support the Ohio Holiday
Lights Trail. They encourage Ohio’s 88 counties to go all out on Holiday themed decorations. From fancy
lights to full on displays, this still allows everyone to celebrate and get into the Holiday spirit. One of the
festival of lights locations is the Cincinnati Zoo. They host the PNC Festival of Lights. This is the perfect activity for families. I, Tiff B., went with my husband and two small daughters. It was the best 2-in-1 combination. You get to experience the zoo as well as see all the lights.
My 5 year-old loved being able to see some of the animals. While all of the animals are not out on
display, they do have a few. We even saw the city’s favorite, Fiona, the hippo. We went mid-afternoon
to be able to get the full effects of the lights when it got dark. It was perfect! The zoo was lit in
a rainbow of colors. It was a great experience and a fun thing to see. If you have children and are looking for a fun-family
activity to brighten up your holiday cheer, this one is for you.
We hope these suggestions give you lots to do for the holidays! We look forward to seeing what you all
plan out with your families. Happy Holidays everyone! Cheers to you!
Exploring the Charming Town of ATHENS, OHIO!
Helloooooo everyone!!!! I am so excited to say that we are BACK with yet another partnership
with Ohio. Find It Here. We have loved working with them to explore all things Ohio! This month, we
took it to the road to focus on the charming town of ATHENS! Although the area was new to me, it
might not be to you all since it is home of the one and only Ohio University, amongst other things! If you
are looking for a place to do a last-minute fall trip by yourself, with friends or with family, Athens is a
great option for you. It was about a 2 hour and 45-minute drive from Cincinnati which wasn’t bad at
all! I personally went by myself and enjoyed my music and podcasts on the way!
A little detail on Athens
Fun Fact: Back in the day, Athens was home to two Native American groups- the Adena culture and Ohio
Hopewell tradition. Athens County was then formed much later in 1805 where there were no longer any
native settlements.
Historical Fact: Athens has now been known as a coal and fruit producing region and a state center of
higher education and psychiatric care.
Location Fact: Athens is located 30-45 minutes away from two other charming towns- Chillicothe and
Marietta. There are lots and lots of hills and water around the area. That translates to lots of hiking and
boating!
The more you know! :)
Now, let’s dive into how I spent my day in the area
First…. FOOD! – Let me first say I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of good food there was to
choose from! I could have easily spent majority of my time roaming around the area, eating.
(Actually, that sounds like a fantastic day to me, but I had other things to do!) It was still pretty early in
the morning when I arrived, so breakfast was calling my name! That’s where Fluff Bakery came in.
Fluff Bakery was opened in 2010 and brings you all the tasty pastries, cookies, coffee, sandwiches and
more! They pride themselves on bringing comfort food from their shop to your belly! I ordered one of
their seasonal drinks- the pumpkin spiced caramel latte- and the biscuit sandwich with bacon, egg and
cheese. All I can say is WOW!!! This was one of the best biscuit sandwiches I’ve had in a while. The
flavor, the buttery taste, and the flakiness made it perfect. It was exactly what I needed to gear up for a
busy day.
Important Note: They have seating on the inside, but it’s currently not open due to Covid. You can use
their walk-up window to place your order and sit at one of their seats outside, but seating is limited.
Let’s Get Educated!
Now that I was fueled, I was ready to do a bit of exploring. Since I was right by campus, I was ready
to visit Ohio University! It is the first to be chartered in Ohio, in 1787, and open for students in
1809. When I reached campus, the first word that came to mind was “plush”. The greenery was so
vibrant and soft. There were also large, old trees surrounding the area. It was apparent that the grounds
are always well taken care of.
As far as academics, they offer over 250 areas of study at all levels. There are 12 academic colleges
with the College of Arts and Sciences being the largest academic division in Ohio. For sports, if you are
from Ohio or familiar with Ohio University, you know they are known as the Bobcats and have several
local sports teams. They also seem to have a robust fraternity and sorority population with signs about
activities spread throughout campus. I bet there is never a dull day!
Alright…time to have a little snack!
I’d heard a lot about Whit’s Frozen Custard, which is right by campus, and was sooooo excited to try
them! They make all their custard fresh every day. One of the reasons why they’re such a hit is because
they churn their vanilla and chocolate flavors throughout the day- keeping it nice and smooth! What I
loved is you can get as creative as you’d like with small (and I do mean small) price upgrades per
ingredient. I ended up going with the famous “Whitser” with a vanilla base, snickers, caramel, and
M&Ms. INCREDIBLE!!! I highly recommend!
Sidenote: This is not a place I was able to visit as there were no showtimes during my time, but if you
have a chance, grab tickets for Athena Cinema. It’s right across from Whit’s and looks really unique.
They are a nonprofit cultural institution with a mission to Educate, Entertain, and Engage. As they say it,
there is something for everyone- including controversial, discussion items. In addition to their showings,
they also have student screenings, festivals, and panels. Fingers crossed that you get a chance to check
them out!
Ok…. Now it was time to explore the outdoors!
As mentioned, if you have an interest in being outdoors, you will likely find something for you that is a
short distance away. Athens is known for hiking, biking, boating, camping, swimming and more. The first
place I visited was Strouds Run State Park, named after the family that settled in the area in the
1800s.
I first stopped at the boat house where you can rent a boat for specific amounts of time. Although I was
focused more on hiking this day instead of boating, it was great to walk out on the dock and see how
beautifully serene it was. There was not a large amount of people on the water, which makes for a safer
experience if you go this route. You also can just sit out and enjoy the scenery like I did!
I spent majority of my time hiking a portion of Lakeview trail. It is a long, quiet trail (3.3 miles). Being
alone, you must be careful as there are lots of critters all around you. Although I didn’t experience the
full trail, what I saw was amazing! It could’ve been how much the sunshine was beaming down
or all the trees around, but whatever it was, it was worth it! So put on your hiking boots, grab your
hiking sticks, and get moving!
Know before you go: There are several different entrances that are spread out miles apart. Be sure to
look at the website to narrow down exactly where you want to go. Also, plug the address into your GPS
ahead of time because you likely will loose service.
Time to explore the eating and drinking scene!
Well, I certainly worked up the desire to sit down and have a nice glass of wine! Athens only has one
wine bar in the area, and I was certainly going to visit it! Athens Uncorked is SUPER CUTE! I could not
believe how awesome it looked when I walked inside. It has a calm feel to it mixed with vibrant colors
throughout. As soon as I walked in, the staff was so friendly. They allowed me to walk around to view
the space while also explaining the different wines they have. They offer a variety of domestic and
imported wines, featured Ohio wines, seasonal cocktails, a small selection of fine European beers and
ales and Ohio craft beers. If you’re with people who don’t drink (or are underage), they have mocktails
as well!
What I like is they have something for everyone’s palette- sweet, dry, white, red…there’s a flight for
you! I went with the white wine flight, which came with 3 pours. I can’t say there was one that I didn’t
like, which always makes me happy! When thinking about the venue, the ambiance, the staff, and the
wine, I would easily go back, especially for dinner to try their food as well. I’m so happy this wine
bar was added to the area! Major win!
Although Athens Uncorked had food as well, I was ready for something hearty and for another style of
drink. In comes another recommended stop: Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery. Jackie O’s is great for those of
you who love a good beer and love a pub with tasty food. I did not order a beer, but their cocktails were
fantastic! They have a taproom and brewery next door too if you want to see how they brew their craft
beer.
Since it was a pub, I absolutely had to have the beer battered fish and chips (battered in their beer of
course). OMG!!! The crispy yet soft texture of the batter was so good! The fish was also well
flavored. This was the perfect place to end the foodie part of my adventure. So satisfied!
One more for the road!
By this part of the trip, my time began to be extremely limited, but I didn’t want to leave without at least
quickly stopping at Hocking Hills which is a HUGE state park about 25-30 minutes away from
Athens. The park spans across 25 miles and also partially connects to the forest. There is sooooo much
to do here. You’ll find your typical hiking, camping, and boating, but there’s also rock climbing, zip
lining, ATVing, canoeing, fishing, waterfalls, rappelling, and literally so much more.
Pro tip: Research the park before you go. It can be a bit overwhelming considering how many options
they have. They have a trip planner option online that will help you coordinate your time. I would
recommend dedicating a full day for this because you might be a bit exhausted after (in a great way!)
Final Suggestions:
Before I go, I want to offer up a few additional tips!
- Give yourself time! Although this is a small town, I would encourage you to take at
least a day and a half to explore the area. There are super cute gems and shops surrounding
the campus and plenty of nature to stop at if you’re an outdoorsy type of person!
- Try different food locations – It’s a college town so you’ll see lots of college style places,
but they also have top rated restaurants such as Thai Paradise, Sol, and Salaam
- Bring a portable hotspot if you have it! – I lost service at both Strouds Run Boat House
and Hocking Hills. Luckily my GPS continued to work but if I needed to plug in a new
address, I would not have been able to. A portable hotspot is definitely the best option just
in case!
- Wear your mask– Masks are still heavily required around the city and while moving
about indoors.
Well that is all folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed my review of this charming town and hope it encourages you
to visit one day soon! Bye for now!
Our Summer Bucket List with Ohio. Find It Here !
Hellooooo Everyone!!!! We have exciting news for you all! We are back with a new partnership with
Ohio. Find It Here. If you were following our blog last year, you likely saw our partnership with them
which took us on foodie tours, charming towns, and so much more. Together, with Ohio. Find
It Here, we have a great line up in store for you for the remainder of 2021. First up is…..
OUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST!
You know, Ohio has so much to offer- especially in the summer. There are tons of options to choose
from with something fitting for everyone! Here are some of the top things we are looking forward to:
Parks
Who doesn’t love a good park especially in great cities? If you didn’t know, Cincinnati was
recently rated in the top 10 in the nation for its park system. Pretty cool right?! There are quite a few to
choose from, but our favorites are:
Washington Park- This is one of the best parks in the city for events and festivals. If you want to
just relax in the grass, it’s great. If you want to listen to live music, it’s great. If you want to have a drink
and good food, there’s a different festival on a regular basis. It also has a playground and water area for
kids (or adults. Hey, we’re not judging. Be playful!)
Ziegler Park- Ziegler park is awesome because they have a huge playground, nearby basketball
courts, and the best part- a pool! The pool comes at a low price and is great for all of the kids in the
area who are looking for something to do. Swimming lessons are available and there’s even adult swim
time as well.
Smale Park– Smale Park is just beautiful!!! I love to go at the start of Spring to see their flowers
bloom (tulips are my favvvv and they have plenty of them), which last throughout the summer and most
of fall. This is a nice activity park. You can bike ride by the river, run, play on the playground, hop on a
boat, or walk down to Sawyer Point for volleyball. The bridges and Ohio River are right in view which
makes for such a beautiful site.
Cincinnati and Columbus Zoos!
Did you know Cincinnati and Columbus zoos are both highly rated for top zoos in the nation as well?
Yep! They have the best animals that can roam freely with lots of space, which is important. I love to see
when one of the babies are welcomed to the family. I mean, who doesn’t love Fiona?! (although she’s
not much of a baby anymore). There are several activities you can choose from such as encounters, train
rides, carousels, climbing activities, and more. What I love about the Columbus zoo is the size of their
aquarium! It is awesome! The botanical gardens are also so beautiful and soothing to walk through as
well. Anddd Cincinnati’s annual fundraiser is coming back at the end of summer: Zoofari . This is a gala
that is so well done and so fun! What a great way to close out summer!
Red’s Games– One thing about Ohioans… we love our sports! I mean…..who doesn’t love a good Red’s
game?! Whether you like baseball or not, you certainly can’t deny the fun atmosphere when you’re in
the stands or in a box. My family and I have been going to the games for years and never get tired of it.
It really is a great way to fellowship with each other while cheering your city on. I’m just waiting for the
time when we catch a foul ball! And what about the food? Baseball food (i.e. hot dogs, popcorn, etc.) is
the best, but I absolutely love getting Cincinnati staples such as Skyline and Larosa’s there too.
Somehow, they just taste better in the stadium!
Music Festivals
Music festivals are such a great way to discover new artists that you will end up loving but may never
have heard of if you hadn’t of gone. And guess what? They’re coming back!!! Some of my favorites have
been right here in Ohio. All the open land really allows us to have the perfect venues with awesome
performers. Fun fact: Cincinnati and Cleveland attract tens of thousands of people from surrounding
areas for the Cincinnati Music Festival and Wonderstruck in Cleveland. That’s how good and reputable
they are. Although the Cincinnati Music Festival is not coming back until 2022, Wonderstruck, as well as
many others throughout Ohio will continue this summer- and mostly at full capacity.
King’s Island/Cedar Point
For all the thrill seekers out there- King’s Island in Cincinnati and Cedar Point in Sandusky are right up
your alley! I grew up on both parks and have yet to get tired of them. I absolutely love how they both
add new and exciting rides just about every year. It truly keeps things exciting. If you don’t ride
rollercoasters, don’t worry. There’s plenty for you too! The food alone could certainly keep you coming
back (can I get an amen for the funnel cakes?!). I also love the different performances right in front of
the Eiffel Tower. They make my friends and I want to have a dance party right on the spot. The other
two things that I truly enjoy are the water parks section and the games. Considering how hot the
summers can get, the water is a great way to cool down before drying off at the regular park again. Thrill
seeker or not- these two places are for YOU.
Rooftop Bars-
Most people know I loveeee a good rooftop bar. I could spend every weekend at a different rooftop and
would consider my summer complete. That’s how much I truly enjoy them. Here are a few of my favs in Cincy:
Rhinegeist- When you step up, your jaw might drop because the panorama view of Cincinnati is
awesome! It is nice for a fun night out but can also end up being cute and romantic because of the
sunset and comfy outdoor couches. Grab yourself a beer and enjoy this great space.
Lytle Park- Lytle Park is one of the newer rooftops in Cincy and is all the rave. Their view is
primarily of the Ohio River, bridges and stadiums. Lovely! They offer fun cocktails and bar food while
you sit in the space. One great thing about them- they offer a covered glass area in the event it rains.
If you’re in Columbus visit:
Lincoln Social – They are awesome. The entry includes a floral wall (with BLM in the design-
thank you!) that then opens up to a beautiful space. This is another rooftop that offers super fun
cocktails and delicious food. I would highly suggest making reservations though. They book fast!
If you’re in Columbus or Cincy:
Pins- Pins has expanded to different parts of Columbus and also now in Cincy. It’s such a fun
place that has so many different games to choose from. Not all of them have a rooftop, but regardless,
you will love it because they do have an outdoor space. The Cincinnati location has a rooftop that is so
cute! The firepits (which are also at the non-rooftop locations) make for a cozy yet playful feel. The thing
I love most about them though- their summer slushy drinks! Drink up!!
That’s all for now folks! We hope you’ve enjoyed a glimpse into what we are looking forward to.
Look out for our next partnership with Ohio. Find It Here coming soon! Cheers to SUMMMERRRRR!
The Peace of Asheville
Well, as you all can see, travel is starting to pick back up for me (Yayyyy). And it will be a bit more now that I’m fully vaccinated (Yayyy again)!!! In my last post , I mentioned personal tips to consider prior to traveling. If you haven’t reviewed that, definitely start there first. After reading it, if you now know you are ready to travel and are looking for something low key to get back into the groove, consider ASHEVILLE, NC. I visited Asheville a few years back, but it was only for a day. I’ve always wanted to go back for a longer period of time and was thankfully able to for a quick girl’s trip with my mom and her best friend. Considering how much we all needed relaxation and rejuvenation, this was the perfect location for us.
Asheville is great for those who are looking for variety. If you want to just chill, it’s great. If you want to engage in activities such as hiking, going to museums, etc, it’s great. If you want to celebrate your bachelor/bachelorette and/or honeymoon, it’s great. There is so much to choose from in this area and it also provides you with the benefit of not being in a congested, large city.
Let’s start with where to stay:
I HIGHLY recommend the Omni Grove Park Inn. Why?
- First off, it’s BEAUTIFUL. There are incredible, panorama views from pretty much any part of the back end. Looking out at the trees and mountains is so peaceful and truly helps you appreciate all of God’s creations.
- The amount of options you have on site is awesome! This is a resort that provides you with multiple restaurants, shopping, a spa (I’ll get to that in a minute), live music in the lobby on the weekends, bars, luxury fitness center, and more; right at your fingertips. You don’t have to leave unless you really want to. This is important for those who want to travel, but still aren’t comfortable moving from place to place. Just kick back, relax and enjoy the resort ALLLL you want!
- On Site Restaurants – As I mentioned, The Omni Grove Park Inn has different restaurants to choose from. These range from grab and go markets, smoothie bars near the spa, lunch/dinner, and more. If it’s mid-day, they have first come, first serve tables outside at the Sunset Cocktail Terrace that are great for sipping a cocktail and having a quick bite while you stare out into the view. My absolute favorite for dinner is Sunset Terrace. We ate here two different nights and could’ve done so again and again. The food is delicious and the sunset (if you get there early enough) is breathtaking. Whether you are staying at the hotel or not, make sure you make reservations! This is a hot spot for many Asheville visitors and residents.
- The Spa- Ya’ll! This spa is the best spa I have EVER been to. I really wish I could show you all of the details in pictures, but you aren’t able to use our phones past the check in area. The spa treatment itself was so good and so thorough. I never felt like she was rushing or not giving her best effort. They offer you a mimosa after, which I gladly accepted :) Now, the best perk that comes with your treatment is your access to the spa grounds for the full day of your service. This comes with thermal pools, hot tubs, lounge areas, steam rooms, and so much more. I was blown away by all of it. My suggestions: Be sure to bring your swimsuit, dedicate the full morning and afternoon to the treatment and area, and make reservation WELL in advance. They book up sometimes 4-6 weeks out so this is critical. Pro-Tip that worked for me: I went down on a Saturday morning right when they opened and asked if there were any cancelations over the next few days. Luckily there were!! Don’t just call. Go downstairs! *** They normally would accept reservations from anyone, but due to limited capacity, they are only accepting reservations from hotel guests at this time.
*Disclaimer: The rooms aren’t super high end, but that fits with the vibe of the resort. They preserve the character, look and feel throughout, which includes the rooms. However, they are well maintained and still high quality.
Additional things to do outside of the Omni:
Explore Downtown- Their downtown is very small, but has a really artsy vibe to it. It reminds me of a baby Portland with a mix of vintage shops, rocks/crystals, restaurants, and more. They also have newer hotels with rooftop bars if that is more of what you are looking for. We took a few hours and just walked around for a bit and really enjoyed the area!
Visit the Biltmore– This is one of the attractions Asheville is most known for. It is America’s largest home (800 acres), built by George Vanderbilt. You can either take a guided tour or opt for the self-guided option. There are lots of fun facts you’ll learn in your experience. They’ve done quite well to preserve the space so give it a try- even if it’s not your typical thing to do. Be sure to visit the flower garden as well!
Go Hiking– I did NOT go hiking (lol), but with these mountains and views, I would’ve certainly been open to it! There are guided tours for this or you can gather your group and go to one of the popular trails and go about it on your own!
Dive into the Restaurant Scene– Asheville has many great restaurants to explore. My list quickly grew from deep diving yelp, asking the waitresses at the hotel and overhearing conversations. Two of the restaurants I was able to visit were:
- Hole Doughnuts– This place came highly recommended by so many people. OMG they were so warm, so simple and so delish! They typically have standard flavors, but add in a special that day. The great thing about these is you can order them in advance for a scheduled pick up time. Woop- skip the line! It might’ve been the best decision I made all day lol Even if you can’t eat a whole doughnut at that moment, at least take a bite of it while it’s warm.
- Benne on Eagle – This was another one that came highly recommended. Although their entire menu looked great, I was all for their brunch (because brunch is LIFE). It took me a little while to decide on what to get but I landed on the grouper and grits (fantastic!!) and the biscuit on the side. This was probably one of the best brunch meals I’ve had in a long time. I would go back just for this and also for those doughnuts :)
Well that’s it for now folks. I’m so happy I get to share travel details with you all again! Hopefully it helped add another location to your list. If you’ve been to Asheville or have been traveling, let me know where in the comments!
Know Before You Go/ Exploring Naples
How many of you said 2020 was supposed to be your year of travel? *Raises hand* As you all know, I have always traveled a lot, but 2020 was going to be extra special with incredible trips. Then..Covid. I canceled so many trips for myself and for others (I’m a travel agent on the side if you didn’t know). After taking over a year off from getting on a plane, I finally made my way to Naples, FL with my mom. I can’t tell you how excited, and nervous I was to get back out there. So before I get to Naples and how that was, I’ll share a few bits of info on what to be aware of/what to know before you go.
- Flying– No matter where you fly out of, masks are mandatory the entire time. This may be uncomfortable for you so wear one that is fitting and breathable to protect yourself and others. I flew out of a major airport for a different trip and had different experiences based on who I flew with. With Delta, they still keep the middle seats open, which felt comfortable and safe for me. On American, they filled every seat. This pretty much gave me anxiety the whole time, although I’m sure everything was fine.
- Covid Tests– I highly encourage anyone who is flying (and doesn’t have the vaccine) to get a Covid test at least a few days before you go. Of course, you can pick up Covid anywhere, but it’s still a good thing to do. For extra precaution, get a test when you return as well.
- Restrictions- Know the Covid restrictions and guidelines before you book. Each state is different. For instance, Florida doesn’t have a mask mandate, while Ohio does. However, the cities may be different. In Naples, most businesses required it and most people wore a mask outside, but they technically weren’t mandated to.
- Don’t get too comfortable– It’s easy to get comfortable and want to just take off your mask and be in crowded spaces, but the pandemic is far from over. Keep this in mind when planning out your day.
Overall, be mindful and be safe!
If you’re looking for a place to ease into traveling again, I’d suggest Naples, FL. First off, it is beautiful! Although there are many people who travel and live there for retirement or extended breaks, it is not nearly as crowded as some of the other areas of Florida. This was perfect for me considering I was not used to traveling and didn’t want to be around an abundance of people.
A misconception about Naples is that it is only for people who are retired (65 and up). It’s certainly not a big city with clubs and parties every night (not my style anyway), but there are plenty of calmer options for you such as:
Visit the beach– There are hotels all throughout Naples, but if you want the best experience, stay within walking distance or 5-minute driving distance from the beach. Not only will you be able to experience an incredible sunset, you’ll also put your toes in the sand whenever you’re ready. The water isn’t too cold and certainly is not choppy.
Visit the Farmer’s Market- Each Saturday, downtown streets are closed off to host vendors from all over the local area. This was one of my favorite moments. There were so many delicious food items such as bourbon syrup, freshly made conch, guacamole, ice cream, pasta and so much more. The amount of choices can be a bit overwhelming, so my best advice is to pace yourself and come hungry 😊
Rent a bike & explore the town– I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to do this, but it looked so fun! There’s not a ton of traffic in this area so riding a rented bike along the streets is very safe. You’ll also see many residents doing the same thing, which made me feel comfortable with the though of it. This is a great way to do something slightly active with lots of fun.
Shop – There are many shops in and around downtown with something for everyone. Our hotel was right on 5th street with shopping and restaurants in walking distance of it. The downtown shops were about a 4-5 minute drive with lots of jewelry and clothing options. I love a unique boutique and there were plenty of them here!
Eat! (Of course)- I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of REALLY good restaurants to choose from. Naturally with it being on the coast, there was an abundance of seafood. All of them have outdoor/patio options as well as having distanced tables. Here are a few of the places I loved:
Jane’s Café on 3rd– They’re perfect for breakfast, lunch or brunch (same menu). The menu is huge and the food is delish so no shame if you go back more than once 😊 I recommend the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant, the French Toast, and the Jumbo Mimosa!
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Pazzo! – Ok, the fresh Ricotta White Truffle Garlic Bread….OMGGGGG. Incredible! Also try the Linguini Alla Vongole and the Agliatelle Pisane. This is one to for sure come with an empty stomach because the portions are massive!
Verginia– We went here randomly one night when we couldn’t think of what to have. I highly recommend the Prosciutto Pizza and Bolognese. Rich and delightful!
Yabba Island Grill– This one was my actual favorite because of one specific dish- the crab stuffed grouper. My goodness! The grouper had the perfect crust and was topped with berries and pineapple. Everything about it was incredible.
Lastly, as mentioned, traveling certainly can be done at this time. Just remember the tips and remember to protect yourself, your family, and everyone else! Safe travels!!
Road Tripping Through Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is an area I’d encourage everyone to go to at least once. A lot of people stay in and experience the typical downtown Gatlinburg offerings (which I’ll dive into later…), but there’s so much more than what’s in this area. In November, a few of my close friends and I packed up our things and took a weekend road trip to explore just that! We wanted a mix of new and old which I’ll now pass on to you! The post will include unique finds, typical Gatlinburg musts, and helpful tips!
10 Things To Explore In Sydney, Australia
I recently had the amazing opportunity to take a trip to Sydney, Australia and indulge in lots of what Sydney had to offer. Sydney is by far the most known place of Australia. It’s a city of laid back, friendly people who spend most of their time working out or at the beach. It’s a melting pot to restaurants of all cuisines. You can rest assure there is plenty to eat and you won’t go hungry. From the rooftop swimming pools at the hotels, small bars, stunning beaches, and cool wildlife that seems to only be dreamed about or seen in picture books; there is always something fun and exciting to explore in the wonderful city of Sydney.
**HELPFUL TIPS**
Before visiting Australia, there are a few things you might want to consider and plan ahead for to create a smooth and fun trip. I will use my actual destinations so, the readers (you), can get a true understanding of time and location.
ORIGIN – Cincinnati, OH (CVG)
DESTINATION – Sydney, Australia (SYD)
DURATION OF TRIP – All together Apr 12 – Apr 18. However, because Australia is 14 hrs ahead of Cincinnati, 2 days were spent for traveling there. You gain time coming back so we left on Apr 18 and arrived back in Cincinnati Apr 18. We left on Apr 12 and arrived in Sydney Apr 14. From Apr 14 7:30 AM (when we landed) to Apr 18 9:30 AM (time our flight left) it was 4 days actually spent in Sydney.
SEEING AUSTRALIA IS ONE THING, GETTING THERE IS ANOTHER! – Flights & Layovers, ahhhh! Getting to Australia you will endure long flights and layovers, but I promise it will be worth it!
- From Cincinnati to Los Angeles (LAX) (4hrs flight time)
- Layover 1 (there): Los Angeles (7hrs)
- From Los Angeles to Sydney (approximately 16 hrs flight time)
- From Sydney to Los Angeles (approximately 12.5 hrs flight time)
- Layover 2 (back): Los Angeles (7 hrs)
- From Los Angeles to Cincinnati (4 hrs flight time)Flights & Layover:
- Understand you will leave from your origin one day and arrive in Sydney two days later. (We left CVG on 04/12/2019 at 2:40 pm and did not arrive in Sydney until 04/14/2019 at 7:30 am)
PLANE TICKETS! – Australia can be costly to fly to. However, if you look at the right time you can get plane tickets for a good price per person. We paid $1000 per person. I have honestly not seen cheaper than this. Most of the time when I searched in the years prior to fly to Australia, I would see $1500-$2000 per person. I am also not a travel agent so there may be a much better deal on tickets and activities and/or hotels combined. Don’t forget Tiffany Dace, the other half of Tiff Squared, is a travel agent and would be more than happy to assist you with this. We booked our entire trip through Delta airlines because of the price and being the cheapest we saw, we did not want to pass this up.
PLAN AHEAD! – Although you do not need to plan out every step before your trip, it is a good idea to know what types of activities you would like to do. This is important in the case you want to do a day tour as we did. Some day tours can be 10-12 hours. We did a 12 hour tour that left at 6:15 AM and did not return till approximately 6:30 PM. I can’t stress this enough!! If you do not plan ahead, this will take up an entire day and depending on your schedule of how long you are staying you may have to rearrange or miss out on certain activities. I would also encourage looking into activities and booking before you go. Waiting till you are already there can be risky. We waited till we got there and almost missed out on the day tour.
PREGNANT?! – Yes, you can do this trip pregnant as I was, but it is not the most comfortable while flying. I was 25 weeks pregnant when I took this trip. You will have to get up and walk around on the plane every 2-3 hours. Also, drink PLENTY of water.
ETA – What is an ETA? – An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) provides authorization to travel to and enter Australia and is electronically linked to your passport. We didn’t seem to need it, but we still applied for one just in case. I applied the morning we left as I didn’t realize I could need it. The cost is approximately $14-15 per person. You can find the website we used here ETA.
COMFORTABLE SHOES! – We did a lot of walking to sightsee, so if you want to save money and not take an Uber or cab everywhere, I would suggest bringing comfortable shoes to walk in.
WHERE TO STAY?! – Of course this is optional, but we stayed at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
- I would recommend staying at a hotel that is in good walking distance from the main attractions you want to see. There is also lots of food places around the main attractions (i.e. Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay, Circular Quay, etc.).
UBER?! – Yes, they have Uber in the case that you need it. We did use Uber sometimes if places were just to far to walk. However, most of the time we did a lot of walking.
SAVE UP! – Lastly, I would encourage having a good amount of spending money. While Australia is nice some activities and most restaurants are pricy.
Now that you are excited to explore Sydney and have your handy dandy “tips” covered, let’s see what there is to do in Sydney, Australia:
1. Darling Harbour
There are many places to stay and visit while in Sydney, but one of the most popular is Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is known for its amazing entertainment and delicious waterside dining. Darling Harbour is the perfect destination in the heart of Sydney. We enjoyed the sunny days and nice weather while walking around enjoying the everyday hussle and bustle of a harbour. You’ll find plenty to do and see. The waterfront restaurants are an amazing experience as well, and make for a fun night out or a good date night with the significant other. We dined at one of the waterfront restaurants, Crinitis, and the food was pretty good. It was mainly Italian cuisine with many options to choose from. Don’t forget the harbour is a large recreational and pedestrian precinct which means it is great for walking. We did LOTS of walking! Darling Harbour is also walking distance from other attractions, to name a few: Cockle Bay, Circular Quay, Chinatown, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Garden, and many more. We experienced the harbour first hand by staying at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. This was an awesome experience. Our room had a harbour view, so we could enjoy the scenery of the harbour as the sun rise and set.
2. Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, in its beautiful harbour location, is a renowned international symbol of Australia. You cannot come to Sydney and not visit and take pictures of and with the bridge (in the background, haha). Its amazing through arch structure is beautiful, bold and present in appearance and can be seen for miles away. This bridge carries rail, vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic. You can even book a tour to walk the arch of the bridge. It was a surreal experience to be able to see the bridge in real life, take pictures that I will have for years, all while creating memories of a lifetime.
3. Sydney Opera House
Another one of Sydney’s most iconic buildings, is the Sydney Opera House. Despite its name which suggest a single venue, it is known to be a multi-venue performing arts centre. Millions of people visit and attend performances a year. This structure like the bridge is bold and beautiful and makes for amazing pictures. Get your cameras ready, as there are some wonderful views from the Opera House. You can book tours to see the inside of the Opera House as well. While we did not take a tour, we had a blast walking around soaking in the everyday life of locals and tourist hanging around the Opera House. If you get hungry and want a bite to eat, there is also restaurant and bars open to the public located at the Opera House.
4. Royal Botanical Garden
Just a short walk away from the Sydney Opera House, is the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens is a historic garden at Farm Cove on the eastern fringe of Sydney Central Business District. It was so relaxing to simply walk around, take in the fresh air, see people interacting, see the beautiful plants, all while the sun beamed down on us. The gardens are a great place to go to simply take in and enjoy life at a calm slow pace!
5. Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk
The sounds and the air of the ocean waves while walking the coastline was amazing! The beaches were such a beautiful view as well as the surrounding area. It was so relaxing yet a good mild workout, especially for me because I was 25 weeks pregnant. The path has some flat walking, downward inclines as well as upward inclines. I really enjoy outside hikes, so this was cool. We started at Coogee Beach and walked to Bondi Beach. It was about a 5-mile walk. The sun was out, and it wasn’t too hot or too cold. It was perfect. If you’re an outdoors person and love hikes and beautiful views, this is for you! Yes, these are more of the touristy beaches but even being a “touristy” location, it still made for a great experience and a great sight to see. It wasn’t overly crowded when I went in April, and I still had plenty of room to walk and enjoy the coastal path with the people I came with. The beaches also weren’t overly crowded.
6. Blue Mountain Day Tour
As I previously mentioned in the helpful tips section (located at the beginning of this blog post), there are day tours that you can take. A day tour is typically 10-12 hours depending on the tour and tour guide company. Hence the name “Day Tour” these tours will take up one full day during your visit to Australia. We were picked up from our hotel at 6:15 AM and we were dropped back off by boat to Darling Harbour at 6:30 PM.
My husband and I refused to come to Australia and not see Koala Bears and Kangaroos. We looked into what was the best option to be able to experience this opportunity and found the Blue Mountain Day Tour (Glenbrook). We booked through our hotel concierge which made it easy and hassle free. The tour was an amazing experience! The activities that we did while on the tour are as follows: 1) had breakfast with the kangaroos, 2) visited the Scenic World Blue Mountains Australia, 3) Lunch at Ivanhoe Hotel, 4) visited more kangaroos and koalas at Featherdale Wildlife Park, 5) had a small cruise ride back to either Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. Our tour guide, Sean, was amazing, super accommodating and very knowledgeable.
BREAKFAST WITH THE KANGAROOS – This was truly an amazing experience. We got to start the morning off by seeing kangaroos and kookaburras in their natural habitat while enjoying a “wildlife on-the-go breakfast.
SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS AUSTRALIA – This was another great experience and memory. We got the opportunity to see the Three Sisters rock formation from Echo Point Lookout at Katoomba. We also boarded the world’s steepest passenger railway and descend into an ancient rainforest. Last, we hopped aboard a glass-floored cable car suspended above the steep gorge to get a panoramic view of the mountains.
LUNCH AT IVANHOE HOTEL – We got the opportunity to have lunch at Ivanhoe Hotel, a local restaurant in Katoomba known for its pies (food item Australia is known for).
FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE PARK – If you didn’t get enough of the kangaroos at breakfast, here is another opportunity. Featherdale is a good way to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s native wildlife. My husband and I even took pictures with Archer the Koala. What is unique about this park is that some of the animals are actually out walking or hopping around while you walk around and see them. You can even feed some of the wildlife. This was pretty cool yet a little weird at first.
SMALL CRUISE RIDE BACK – At the end of the tour, we were transported back to Darling Harbour by boat. You can either be transported back to Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. This was such a good way to sit back relax and enjoy the view from the water as well as experience a small cruise.
7. Sydney & Bondi: Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Tour
One of my mine and my husband’s “thing” to do when visiting another city or country is the Hop-on, Hop-Off bus tour if its available. We love learning about the history and culture of other places in the world. For me, this is the perfect tour. It’s usually automated whether it’s a recording or a live person speaking into a microphone giving facts. This is also another good way to sight see and be able to view most of a city’s known attractions all at the comfort of just riding and listening. Hence the name, you do have the ability to hop-on and off at the many stops provided for drop-off and pick-up. While my husband and I don’t hop-off, we enjoy the full tour and just ride the bus back to our original stop. During this tour we did both the Sydney route and the Bondi Beach route. Both are unique with many things to see.
8. King Street, Newtown, Sydney
King Street is the central access route of the suburb of Newtown in Sydney. It is also where artist, the LGBT community and university students reside. This street is good for walking, seeing murals, eating and shopping. As you walk the streets, you can feel the artist come alive through the different murals and paintings. These murals tell different stories and made us appreciate the history and culture of this area. If you are looking for a great way to appreciate art, this is the street for you.
9. The Rocks
The Rocks is a historic precinct on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour. It is also where many historic buildings and shops are located. Like many other small areas in Sydney, this is a good place to eat, sightsee, shop and bar hop. We came to The Rocks to walk around and explore the area. We also decided to grab a bite to eat. We enjoyed this area just as a simple exploring adventure.
10. The Birdcages on Angel Place
With such a charming name, the birdcages on Angel Place was a creative yet beautiful sight to see. While the birdcages are empty it lends to a unique way of getting history across to its observers. The collection of the empty bird cages is called “Forgotten Songs” designed by Michael Thomas Hill. As you stand underneath the cages, you can hear the sounds of the birds that once inhabited Sydney. It was a unique way to experience history while seeing such a creative design. While I am not a huge art geek, this made me appreciate the creativity and concept of the artwork.
This wraps up my 10 to-dos while in Sydney, Australia. As you can see this trip was a packed, fun-filled experience that I will never forget. I hope you enjoyed reading all about things, wellll – Sydney If you choose to visit Sydney after reading this post, I hope the helpful tips and suggestions of where to visit will make your trip a fantastic experience. Until next time, See ya! **Waves**
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